Rolling Creek Apartments At 8038 Gatehouse Dr.

[mrfootball]

Due to a recent loophole created in order to increase the availabilty of affordable/low-income housing in Harris County increasing the ceiling of taxpayer subsidized bonds available to developers, there's been a rush to build new projects, much to the chagrin of area residents. As these are taxpayers subsidized projects, they can be withdrawn if there's enough public outcry.

Residents in Northpointe (Tomball) have been fighting one such project called the Willow Creek Apartments, it appears their fight is successful as Cynosure has withdrawn their application once again.

However, there are a few other Low Income Tax Credit Housing projects proposed for the Jersey Village area that residents should be concerned about.

Public Hearing for Proposed Meadowlands Apartments (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=steepleway+boulevard+houston,+texas&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=29.90121,-95.586205&spn=0.013728,0.026951) - August 9th

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to be held by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (the

[mrfootball]

July 20, 2006, 12:11PM

ROLLING CREEK APARTMENT COMPLEX

Developer reapplies for building permit

Residents can make comments about the project at Aug. 7 meeting

Houston Chronicle Article

By KIM JACKSON

Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Several residents say they are preparing for the third round of a fight against a developer that plans to build a low- to moderate-income apartment complex near their neighborhoods off Fairbanks-North Houston Road.

In April, Corpus Christi-based Cynosure Developers submitted its third application with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for $14.6 million in tax-exempt bonds and an estimated $6 million in tax credits to build the 248-unit Rolling Creek apartment complex, 8038 Gatehouse Drive.

Taking comments

The state housing department will hold a public hearing on Cynosure's application at 6 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel's Plaza Room, 12801 Northwest Freeway. The department will take public comments on the project at that time, said Gordon Anderson, the state housing department's spokesman.

Members of the grass-roots Fairbanks Area Partnership coalition, a group of residents opposed to the construction of that Rolling Creek apartment complex, said they will voice opposition to the project as they have done at the two public hearings on the two defunct applications the developer submitted in 2005.

"We are not surprised that they (Cynosure owners) reapplied," said Jackie Remmers, committee chairman of the Fairbanks Area Partnership. "We have been waiting."

The applications

Cynosure withdrew the first application in February 2005, and the second application in December 2005. The state housing department board did not have a chance to make a final decision on either application, and the developer was eligible to apply again in the 2006 funding cycle, Anderson said.

Daniel Sereni, co-manager of Cynosure Developers, said the company withdrew its first application for business reasons, and the second application because of skyrocketing construction costs in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Sereni said he is aware the coalition has not given up efforts to have the company's application denied. He said he understands their concerns.

At both public hearings in 2005, residents opposed to the project said it could add to the area's flooding, traffic, apartment vacancy and school overcrowding problems.

Petition drive

The coalition continues to gather signatures on a petition against the project. The group will be collecting signatures today at the entrance to the Courtyard Glen subdivision on Summertree Drive from 4-7 p.m.; Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. at the Rolling Fork Clubhouse, 9110 Rodney Ray; Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at the Woodland Trails club and pool, 7446 Woodland West Drive;

Also on Monday, July 31 from 5-7 p.m. at the Woodwinds Lakes family pool, 9015 Woodwind Lakes Drive.

kimberlye.jackson@chron.com

[Mom22Blessings]

Why don't they call it Texas A&M - Prairie View then? Like TAMU- Commerce or Galveston or Kingsville?

When I drive PV on my way west I don't ever see any signs of "TAMU" in the city or on the name of the school.

[PureAuteur]

There has been low-income multi-family housing all over the Jersey Village area for 2 decades now. Look at 290 and Tidwell. That is in the JV area. Also, you have some stuff just inside the Beltway like around Gulf Bank that is low-income. Most everything else is about standard rental price.

[Trae]

Why don't they call it Texas A&M - Prairie View then? Like TAMU- Commerce or Galveston or Kingsville?

When I drive PV on my way west I don't ever see any signs of "TAMU" in the city or on the name of the school.

There are. First the A&M should tell you something. Second, at PVAMU's main entrance it says "Praire View A&M University...A Texas A&M Campus."